Did Fiscal Conservatism Derail Kerr County’s New Flood Warning System?
In the devastating aftermath of the July 4 floods that ravaged Kerr County, killing nearly 100 people, questions have emerged over a decision that many now say could have saved lives — the county’s failure to install a modern flood warning system.
For years, officials debated adding sirens and high-water detection systems along the Guadalupe River, a beloved but dangerous waterway that has become central to the county’s economy. But repeated concerns about government spending and taxpayer pushback led to delay after delay.
A Tragic Cost of Inaction
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly acknowledged that cost concerns were a major barrier. “The public reeled at the cost,” he said, referencing prior proposals for a flood alert system. The river, swollen by intense rainfall, surged over 32 feet in a matter of hours, leaving residents with little to no warning.
Back in 2016, county commissioners openly discussed how neighboring counties like Comal had moved ahead with sirens and more advanced alert systems. In contrast, Kerr County’s system relied heavily on flashing lights at water crossings and optional CodeRED cellphone alerts — ineffective in areas with poor reception, especially near the headwaters in Hunt.
Emergency Management Coordinator W.B. “Dub” Thomas repeatedly urged officials to invest in a more robust, centrally controlled alert system that could send out mass notifications in multiple formats.
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A Missed Opportunity for Federal Funding
In 2017, Kerr County applied for a $731,000 FEMA grant to fund a nearly $1 million system that included flood gauges, warning sirens, and high-water detection units. But without an up-to-date hazard mitigation plan, the Texas Division of Emergency Management denied the request. By the time it was resubmitted, funding had shifted toward Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.
Despite discussing the need for flood protections nearly two dozen times since 2016, the project remained in limbo.
Millions Received, But Not for Flood Protection
In 2021, a new funding opportunity arrived: $10.2 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Counties across Texas used the federal dollars for infrastructure improvements, with cities like Corpus Christi and Waco allocating portions toward stormwater management.
But in Kerr County, political divisions derailed similar plans.
Public opinion, driven by skepticism of federal government intervention, steered spending away from flood safety. In a community that strongly supported former President Donald Trump, some residents argued that accepting money from the Biden administration was a betrayal.
At an April 2022 public meeting, residents voiced fierce opposition:
“We don’t want to be bought by the federal government,” said one resident.
“Send this money back to the most treasonous administration ever to hold the White House,” added another.
Ultimately, the county used the majority of ARPA funds for a $7 million emergency radio system, $1 million in bonuses and raises for sheriff’s department employees, and even a new walking path. Not a single dollar went to the flood alert system that had been on the table for nearly a decade.
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Now, the Community Demands Accountability
The flood’s aftermath has ignited local outrage. Ingram City Council member Raymond Howard — who spent the early hours of July 4 knocking on doors to warn neighbors — has since been combing through years of county records to understand how warnings were never implemented.
“I ignored the first two alerts on my phone. What if I didn’t wake up at all?” Howard asked. “We’ve been talking about this system for years — they brought it up over 20 times and still didn’t do anything.”
Even those who once served in government are frustrated. Former state Rep. Harvey Hilderbran said the pattern is familiar: “People support flood mitigation until the funding details come up. That’s where plans stall.”
A Personal Mission for One Local Leader
Howard, who moved to Kerr County to care for his ailing mother and is now battling stage four cancer himself, says the tragedy has given him renewed purpose.
“We’re going to get a siren installed in Ingram — I already know exactly where it’ll go, right on the tower behind the fire department,” he said. “Even if it’s the last thing I do, I’ll make sure we’re safer next time.”
A Community at a Crossroads
Kerr County has long prided itself on limited government and low taxes, but the flood has forced a reckoning. Could investing a fraction of those values into infrastructure have changed the outcome? As families grieve and rebuild, that question looms large.
Local leaders are now under pressure to reexamine their priorities and put public safety first. Whether they will finally fund the warning system long debated — or continue down the same path — remains to be seen.
